England should be working with a fully-fit squad for Saturday's World Cup 2022 quarter-final with reigning champions France at the Al Bayt Stadium.

West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice was unable to take part in training on Wednesday due to illness, although he has had ample time to recover and should be back in time for the quarter-final.

Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson is dealing with a minor strain but should also be passed fit, while Raheem Sterling has returned to Al Wakrah after a break-in at his Surrey home, but Ben White remains absent for personal reasons.

The big question Gareth Southgate must answer is whether to stick with a four-man backline or line up with three centre-backs in front of Jordan Pickford, who is aiming to keep a fourth successive clean sheet.

Southgate has suggested that a 4-3-3 system will be the way to go, which would therefore see Harry Maguire and John Stones resume their partnership in the heart of the backline.

Luke Shaw and Kyle Walker will have the unenviable task of trying to keep Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe quiet, and there is nothing to suggest that Rice will not be fit to start in midfield.

Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson should link up with Rice in the engine room as Kalvin Phillips continues to build up his match fitness, while Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden have surely done enough to retain their spots in attack, even if Sterling is ready to compete with the latter for the left-wing position.

Captain Harry Kane struck his 52nd goal for England in their last-16 win over Senegal, and the Tottenham Hotspur talisman needs just one more to draw level with Wayne Rooney's 53 at the top of the charts.

England possible starting lineup: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Bellingham, Rice, Henderson; Saka, Kane, Foden

> Click here to see how France could line up for this quarter-final

Written by
Ben Knapton